Getting prepped for Chinese New Year? Here’s a handy guide to shopping for auspicious decorations, new clothes and other essentials on Taobao!

Who says Chinese New Year decorations have to be tacky or gaudy? Here are some cool options to get you started.

Tips

Certain electronics may be marked as restricted items by your Taobao forwarder/agent (which means you have to pay a higher shipping rate for Sensitive Air) because of the batteries inside the item. Ask your forwarder/agent to discard the batteries, so you can ship the item via Economy Air instead.

Certain Taobao forwarders may not ship restricted items to Singapore, so it’s best to contact them directly to ask in advance.

Bring in the good fortune with these auspicious door decorations, which come in a variety of designs and sizes – including stickers, garlands and matching sets to hang on either side of your doorway. #huatah

If you think that obiang (gaudy) Chinese New Year decorations will clash with your Scandinavian-themed home, these Year of the Rooster decorations are a stylish yet equally auspicious option for a more modern look.

Want something a bit more understated? These simple felt decorations will add festive cheer, without auntie-fying your home. As an added bonus, they aren’t specific to any zodiac, so you can use them every Chinese New Year too.

If you’re planning to hold evening gatherings over the Chinese New Year period, these lantern light garlands will add to the festive atmosphere (and also create an Instaworthy background – which is all that matters, am I right).

Just a heads up though – certain items like LED lights can only be shipped via Sensitive Air (as opposed to regular Economy Air), so take that into account before placing your order.

Want to add a splash of colour to your home, without going overboard? These colourful paper lanterns will do the trick. Not only are they light and easy to store, but the lanterns also come in a variety of sizes and colours. Add your own fairy lights or electric candles (don’t use real candles, obviously) to take these decorations to the next level.

If you want to step things up this year, skip the free red packets (with the obvious logos *cough*) and get some of these nicer options instead. Some of them are so cute, that the recipient may just overlook how much money you put inside. Maybe.

Tips

Use different red packet designs to differentiate the amount of money you put inside each envelope. This way, you can discreetly dole out red packets with larger amounts of money to your favourite people, and the ones with less money to uh, your least favourite ones (screaming kids, we’re looking at you). Taobao has plenty of options for red packet designs anyway, so you will be spoiled for choice.

It may be a good idea to write your name on the red packet, so that the receiver remembers who it’s from. Unless you’re giving the receiver a paltry amount, then uh, leave no traces of your identity. #justsayin

Can’t find what you’re looking for below? Check out more Chinese New Year red packet designs here.

These traditional-style gift bags comes in various sizes, so you can use them for cakes, bottles and other festive gifts. The bags are made of a sturdy cloth-like material, so they can hold heavier items too.

Useful Search Terms

Whether you’re having a casual steamboat party or a full-on Chinese New Year open house, here are some essentials to make your life easier.

Tips

Short of space for your steamboat spread? Place ingredients on a multi-layered food stand to save space (and create an Instaworthy table of food).

If you’re getting steamboat equipment from Taobao, avoid the kind that comes with an induction cooker or built-in gas tank. Certain forwarders don’t ship sensitive items (or charge a premium to do so), so it’s better to just get the steamboat pot on its own.

This, my friends, is the answer to all your food displaying needs – steamboat ingredients, desserts, buffet-style dishes…the possibilities are endless. They come in different sizes and colour variations too, so you can pick the combination that works best for your dining needs.

No space for a mahjong table? Don’t want to annoy your neighbours with late-night mahjong sessions? These ingenious Mahjong Cards are a convenient (and quieter) option for all the mahjong addicts out there.

This Texas Hold’em Poker Set includes two decks of cards, a set of chips, diceand a poker mat – basically, everything you need to hold your own Poker tournament at home. Oh and have we mentioned the nifty briefcase that comes with it?

Last but not least, what’s Chinese New Year without some new threads? It may be somewhat challenging to find suitable clothes on Taobao this time of the year (unless you’re looking for winter wear), but here are some tips on how to streamline your search results.

Tips

If you want to search for clothes in brighter colours (or more Chinese New Year-appropriate styles), add ‘春节’ (Spring Festival) to your search terms. You can also try adding ‘夏’ (Summer) to filter out heavier winter clothes from the search results.

Need to look slimmer before Chinese New Year, but no time to diet/work out? Have no fear, Taobao is here. Search for ‘束身衣‘ (Shapewear) so you can get some Spanx (or uh, fake Spanx) to wear under your clothes. #hacked

Can’t find what you’re looking for below? Check out more Chinese New Year clothing options here.

One last thing…

Chinese New Year falls much earlier this year (28 January), so try to place your Taobao orders by mid-January to ensure that they arrive in time. Parcels take an average of 4 days to reach the China warehouse and another 7 – 9 days (on average) to reach Singapore, so it’s best to shop early if you can.